Fluidic separation and detection

Abstract

Flow apparatuses comprising a separation channel, a downstream flow separator, a detection zone, an observation zone, and a waste channel. The separation channel has first and second flows in contact and allows lateral movement of components between contacting first and second flows. The downstream flow separator is in communication with the separation channel and diverts a part of the first fluid flow, the second fluid flow, or both, from the separation channel. The detection zone comprises a detection channel downstream of and in communication with the flow separator and configured to receive a plurality of diverted flows from the flow separator and a label channel configured to label the diverted flows from the flow separator. The observation zone is configured to record an analytical signal indicative of the quantity and the electrical properties of the component. The waste channel is at the downstream end of the observation zone.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of analysing a component, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first fluid flow comprising the component; 
 providing a second fluid flow comprising a buffer or water; 
 providing a distribution of the component across the first and second fluid flows which are in contact; 
 
       diverting part of the first and second fluid flows and analysing the component in the diverted part of the fluid flows to obtain a first analytical signal indicative of at least one property of the component; and
 providing a first diverted fluid flow comprising the component; 
 providing a second diverted fluid flow comprising the component; 
 providing a distribution of the component across the first and second diverted fluid flows which are in contact; 
 diverting part of the first and second fluid diverted flows and analysing the component in the diverted part of the diverted fluid flows to obtain a second analytical signal indicative of at least one property of the components; 
 comparing the first and second analytical signals. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the steps leading to the second analytical signal are performed before the steps leading to the first analytical signal. 
     
     
       3. A method of analysing a component, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first fluid flow comprising the component; 
 analysing the component in the first fluid to obtain an analytical signal indicative of at least one property of the component; 
 providing a second fluid flow comprising a buffer or water; 
 providing a distribution of the component across the first and second fluid flows; 
 diverting part of the first and second fluid flows; and 
 analysing the component in the diverted part of the fluid flows to obtain an analytical signal indicative of at least one property of the component; and
 comparing the analytical signal from the component in the diverted part with the analytical signal from the component in the first fluid. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the comparison of the analytical signals provides a ratio between the component in the diverted part and the first fluid. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the ratio is used to calculate the property of the component on which the lateral distribution is created. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the analysis of the component in the first fluid occurs after the diversion step. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the distribution is created by diffusion and the property of the component relates to the mass of the component. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the distribution is created by electrophoresis and the property of the component is an electrical property of the component. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the component is a protein. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the component is in its native state. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of labelling the component in the diverted part of the fluid flow. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises the step of labelling the component in the first fluid. 
     
     
       13. A flow apparatus for detecting a component in a mixture, the apparatus comprising:
 a separation channel; 
 a first inlet configured to introduce a first fluid comprising a first component into the separation channel; 
 a second inlet configured to introduce a second fluid comprising a second component into the separation channel; 
 wherein the separation channel is configured to permit lateral movement of the first and second components between the first and second fluids which are in contact in the separation channel; 
 a downstream flow separator in fluid communication with the separation channel, wherein the flow separator is configured to divert a part of the first fluid, a part of the second fluid, or parts of the first fluid and the second fluid, from the separation channel, and 
 a detection zone comprising: 
 a detection channel provided downstream of and in fluid communication with the flow separator and configured to receive one or more of diverted flows from the flow separator; and 
 
       a label channel configured to label each of the first and/or second components in one or more of the diverted flows from the flow separator; and
 an observation zone configured to record an analytical signal indicative of the quantity and/or the properties of each of the first and/or second components in one or more of the diverted parts. 
 
     
     
       14. The flow apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second components are the same. 
     
     
       15. The flow apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the first and second components are different components. 
     
     
       16. The flow apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the separation channel permits lateral movement by diffusion and the observation zone is configured to record an analytical signal indicative of the mass of each of the first and/or second components in one of the diverted parts. 
     
     
       17. The flow apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising electrodes alongside the separation channel for deflecting charged components across the channel and the observation zone is configured to record an analytical signal indicative of the electrical properties of each of the first and/or second components in one of the diverted parts. 
     
     
       18. The flow apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising a waste channel at the downstream end of the observation zone. 
     
     
       19. The flow apparatus according  claim 18 , wherein the waste channel is at the downstream end of the separation channel.